No bond for alleged death threats on judges, cops

Samuel Bradbury, 22, faces state and federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill two judges and two law enforcement officers.
(Photo:
Tippecanoe County Jail
)

A federal judge has ordered that Samuel Bradbury, who allegedly made death threats on Facebook last month against two police officers and two judges in Tippecanoe County, be detained without bond.

Bradbury, 22, of Pine Village, faces criminal allegations in state and federal court after claiming to lead an armed group of more than 50 members "willing to die" in attacks on local law enforcement personnel and property.

He said the Tippecanoe County Courthouse "will be blown to pieces within the month" and named four officials as targets in a scheme "to purge the vile pig scum from this land and restore constitutional rights to the people."

"The government has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is a danger to the community," Rodovich wrote. He noted that any conditional release of Bradbury could jeopardize public safety.

The potential hazard is compounded, Rodovich wrote, by Bradbury's history of substance abuse and his mental health condition. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for which he has been in therapy within the past year and continues to take psychotropic medication, court documents state.

Individuals with bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, experience dramatic shifts in mood and energy levels well beyond the normal ups and downs experienced by most people, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Although the disorder typically persists through a patient's lifetime, the institute reports that symptoms can be effectively managed with treatment.

Rodovich also addressed Bradbury's claim that the Facebook threats he made against Tippecanoe County officials were merely satire.

"Although the defendant stated that his Facebook post was an exercise of his First Amendment right to free speech," Rodovich wrote, "the court does not have to accept his disclaimer, particularly in light of the magnitude of his (threats), the discovery of materials used to make an explosive device found during the search of his residence, and the internet searches the defendant conducted to research the individuals against whom he made the threats."

Officers executing a search warrant June 21 reportedly discovered three bags of aluminum powder and three bags of black iron oxide — precursors used to make thermite — in Bradbury's bedroom.

FBI Agent Troy Wohlfert testified that none of the bags contained a mixture of the two substances and that no ignition material was found, the court's order states.

The order furthermore notes Bradbury's past noncompliance with the terms of his probation and his failure to appear for court hearings in other cases.

In 2011, he was charged with maintaining a common nuisance and possessing more than 30 grams of marijuana, both Class D felonies. He pleaded guilty to those charges in 2013. A third charge, Class A misdemeanor dealing in marijuana, was dismissed per the terms of a plea agreement.

He was sentenced in September 2013 to a year of probation after pleading guilty to two drug-related charges in Marion County.

He paid two fines in 2013 for disregarding an automatic signal and speeding. He paid a fine this year for carrying an open alcoholic beverage container.

Bradbury was charged in March with three Class A misdemeanors for drunken driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.15 or greater and possession of paraphernalia. A jury trial in that cause is scheduled for Aug. 21.

Public defenders Ashwin Cattamanchi and Viniyanka Prasad declined to permit Bradbury to participate in an interview with the Journal & Courier while incarcerated. They did not respond Thursday to a request for comment.